PHI: Chase Utley (3), Pedro Feliz (1) Prior to the start of the game, Derek Jeter and Albert Pujols

were named winners of the Hank Aaron Award for their offensive performances in 2009. [90] This was the first game to test manager Joe Girardi's decision to use a three-man starting rotation , as CC Sabathia started the game on three days rest, a shorter period than he normally got during the regular season. [91] Jeter led the game off with a single and advanced to third base on a double by Johnny Damon. [92] Jeter scored via a Mark Teixeira ground out and Alex Rodriguez was hit by a pitch .[92] Rodriguez was hit twice the night before and the umpires issued warnings to both benches. [93] Jorge Posada then added to the Yankees lead that inning with a
sacrifice fly .[92] The Phillies answered quickly, scoring a run on successive doubles by Shane Victorino and Chase Utley in the bottom of the first. [92] Sabathia intentionally walked Jayson Werth, but escaped the inning without further scoring. [92] The Phillies tied the game in the bottom of the fourth as Ryan Howard singled, stole second, and scored on a single by Pedro Feliz .[92] Although the run counted, instant replay of Howard's slide later showed that he did not touch home plate . [94][95]
Nick Swisher walked to lead off the fifth inning and advanced to second on a Melky Cabrera single. [92] Swisher restored the Yankees' lead, scoring on a single by Jeter, and Cabrera added to it by scoring a run on a Damon single. [92]
Brett Gardner replaced Cabrera in center field as a defensive substitution in the bottom of the sixth inning after Cabrera left the game due to a hamstring injury. [96] Chan Ho Park relieved Phillies starter Joe Blanton in the seventh and held the Yankees scoreless in that inning. [92] Chase Utley hit his third home run of the series in the bottom of the seventh with two outs, bringing the game to 4–3. Dámaso Marte relieved Sabathia and got the final out of the seventh without further scoring. [92]
Ryan Madson relieved Park in the eighth and allowed a walk and a single but held the Yankees scoreless. [92] Joba Chamberlain replaced Marte in the bottom of the inning. He struck out the first two batters he faced but allowed a game-tying home run to Feliz before closing the inning.[92]
Brad Lidge came into the game for the ninth inning, popping out Matsui and striking out Jeter before surrendering a two-out single to Damon—after a nine-pitch at bat with two strikes and four foul balls. [97][92] Then, with Teixeira batting, Damon stole second and, on the same play, also stole third as the base was uncovered due to a defensive shift against Teixeira. [98] Several news outlets referred to this as a "mad dash", [99][100] which Mike Vaccaro of the New York Post compared to Enos Slaughter 's "Mad Dash" in the 1946 World Series .[101] Some believed that Damon's play caused Lidge to avoid throwing his best pitch—a
slider with sharp downward movement—for the rest of the inning, as it risked a
wild pitch that would have allowed Damon to score from third base.[102]
[103] Teixeira was then hit by a pitch and Rodriguez put the Yankees ahead with a double, scoring Damon. [92] Posada added to that lead with a single that scored Teixeira and Rodriguez, but was thrown out at second to end the inning. [92] Mariano Rivera entered in the bottom of the ninth and saved the game for the Yankees on eight pitches for his second save of the series.